Pulpwood harvester carriage



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Aug. 1, 1950 B. L. MoN'rAGuE PuLPwoon HARVESTER CARRIAGE 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 3, 1947 B. L. MONTAGUE PULPWOOD HARVESTER CARRIAGE Aug. 1, 195o 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 3, 1947 L l v Ihm.

Aug. l, 1950 B. l.. MoNTAGuE PULPwooD HARVESTER CARRIAGE 'f 1o sheets-sheet 'r Filed April 3, 1947 lMv/Mf, Be-rZ L/lon'ayue,

Aug. 1, 1950 B. L. MoNTAGuE PULPWOOD HARVESTER CARRIAGE 1'0 sheets-sheet a Filed April 3, 1947 DElE- Aug. 1, 1950 B. L. MONTAGUE PULPWOOD HARVESTER CARRIAGE l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed April 3, 1947 ,B675 Mani-ayu@ B. L. MONTAGUE PULPWOOD HARVESTER CARRIAGE Aug. 1, 195o 1D Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed April 3, 1.94"?v Br L. Mongwe,

Patented Aug. 1, 1950 1w s A j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE d Bert LLMqntague, Sumter, S. C.

Application April 3,1947, Serial No. 739,213

My invention has for' its general purpose to provide a machiney for mechanically cutting up tree lengthsof pine .or hardwood logs i into short lengths suitable forv pulpwood :and loading` them onto `a carrier, such' as truck, barge or railroad car.w .m u l i l The machine Iconsistssof the following .parts orsub-units: main machine,` `track dolly, elevating knees; crossfhaul unit and hydraulically controlled extensionto the main unit. A lThe objectsof the invention, in general, are:

1'. To provide `a machine of the 4character stated` which can readily be transported or towed from placeto placeas desired.

2l Toprovide a maohinethe parts of which,` whenassembled for operation, constituteunitary construction all parts of whicncooperate in accomplishing the final result, whichisitoitake a tree length log `from the ground, `divide it into suitable lengths for loading andload these lengths on a suitable transportingV vehicle, inuthe sequence stated. i i i i Y 1 3; To provide means wherebythe-sawwdust is thrown away from the operator. l

4.: To provide means to prevent the thrown saw dust `fromlgettinginto the elevator or` main maA chine.` i l 5. To provide for controlling the operation of` the powered feed roll by the same operator who controls theapplication of the saw to the tree log. l l f i 6. To provide a machine with amain counter shaft to which Vpower is applied from theprime m'ove'r,` via a clutch which, when disengaged, cutsI all power off of allpartsof the machine and to control this disengagement by a pedal orlever at the foot of the saw operator. A `From counter shaft power is transmitted to the saw, through agear boXto the` powered `feed roll, and to endless chain elevating conveyors of the main 7. To provide a saw on an arm hinged on the main counter shaft itself and driven by-a `V-belt whose tension remains constant in all positions of thesawarm.` i. 8. Toprovide for driving the crossflhaulfunit from the lower -sprocket shaft of the -log elevator (main machine) through detachable` universal joints for ease in assembly in the field.

l 9. To providemeansto lock the dolly against rolling on the track while1freeing the1og roll and viceversa as desired.` i r i -`10. To provide a shield for the motor `on the sawside, which shield has provision for keeping the `saw `dust `which impinges against the shield.`

y. `2 claims. (c1. 143-105) from the area of the motor and against the: motor itself.

11. To provide a log stop of special design so that the log in being cross-hauled will not be thrown into the saw itself. f.

l2. To provide a quick way to assemble the elevating arms and knees and to provide safety chains to prevent .cocking up when the: log is being cross-hauled.

13. To provide a special type of powered feed roll, for lightness as well as durability and effectiveness in propelling the log along the track.

14. In general to provide a safe, practical, rugged, yet comparatively light machine which will effectively serve its intended purposes.

Other objects will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, invention further resides in the novel details of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts all of which will rst be fully described and then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figs. 1^, 1B, 1c and 1D when joined on the respective lines A-B, C-D and E-F constitute Fig. 1, which is a top plan view of my invention in its entirety.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ona reduced scale of the log elevating and loading portion` of my apparatus, the side shield being omitted.

Fig. 3 isa top planview ofthe same, the top shields being omitted. f

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail topplan view of the log advancing drum` or roller` and the power transmission and control associated therewith.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the `same looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail elevation of the log rolling mechanism.

d Fig. '7i an end elevation of the same looking from` right to left in Fig. 6. v

Fig. `8` is an enlarged side elevation of one of the elevating arms and its elevating knee.

Fig. 9 is a plan view on a reducedjsoale of the sheet metal blank which when rolledinto a tubular form constitutes the perimeter; of the log advancing or powered feed roller. i

Fig. 10 `is an end elevation of the complete feedroll. i

i Fig. 11 is aschematic view of the hydraulic system `for raising and lowering the last section `of the log elevator and loader portion of theap-` paratusw W 3 l V Fig. 18 is a detail perspective view on an en- Y larged scale showing the log stop, the saw stop and arm holder and the gear box and its cover.

machine is composed of longitudinal channel irons or beams I and transverse channel irons or beams 2. At the entrant end of the main frames is mountedan inclined platform or log slide 3, on which is welded diagonally disposed pipes 4 on which cut logs slide or roll down toward the elevator. Bearing supporting cross bars or plates 5 are provided as parts of the frame while uprights 6 support cross beams 1 that carry the chain ways' of the elevator. Pairs of bracket plates 9 and I0 are secured to the chain-ways 8 and carry bearings 22 for the conveyor shafts II and I2 respectively. The shafts Il and I2 carry sprockets |5 around which the endless chains I3 pass. .Y These chains have their upper flights disposed in they channelled chain-ways 8 as best shown in Figs. 1A, and 2 and at suitable intervals carry dogs, I4 which are so designed as to lap overat least two links of the chain so as to distribute the load over several links of the chain by means of a center rear supporting rib |45.

Pivoted on shaft I2 by means of bracket plates I8 are.V chain-ways I6 that are connected by diagonal'beams I1, and at one end by cross plates I9 and 20., At the other end bracket plates 23 have bearings for a sprocket shaft 24 While an intermediate'bearing bracket 2| secured toplate aids in supporting the extension unit (parts I6,l I1, I8, |9,'2|J, 2|, 23, etc.) pivotally-on shaft I2.4

`Endle`ss chains 25 pass around sprockets 25a on shafts I2 and 24, the upper iiights of which chains ride in the `chain-ways I6. Chain dogs 2E of like construction tothe chain dogs` I4 are secured to the chains 25 at suitable intervals.

' At its free end the extension unit has curved guards 21 cross-connected by bars 28 to prevent the logs which roll off the end of the unit from being dragged back under the unit by the chain dogs.

' Secured to and beneath the plate I9 are brackets 29 (see Fig. 2) which carry a shaft30 on which is mounted the outer end of a piston rod 34 of a hydraulic jack, the other element of which comprises a cylinder 3| that is pivoted at its inner end to a rod 32 carried by beams 33. The hydraulic jack lies beneath the elevator of the main machine out of the way so as to allow the vehicles to be loaded to be backed clear under the extension unit up to the -rear shield 52 (Fig. 2) of the main unit of the machine.

Power is applied to a main counter shaft 35 from a suitable motor 48 that is mounted on the frame of the main unit by means of a belt 49 taking over pulleys on the motor shaft and shaft 35. Pulley 36 runs loose on shaft 35 and has a suitable clutch element 31 to mesh with the shiftable clutch element 38 that is keyed tobe 4 slid on the shaft 35 by the clutch shifting lever 39 that extends to the front of the main unit in convenient reach of an operator.

40 designates a suitable reduction gear device whose input shaft 4| is driven by a belt and pulley connection 4242a from a pulley 42b fastened on shaft 35, and Whose output shaft 43 has a sprocket and chain connection 46 with a secondary counter shaft 44 journalled in bearing'sy45onthe rear uprights 6. A sprocket and chain connection' 41 operatively connects shafts 444 and I2 together so as to drive both elevating conveyors I3, I3 and 25, 25.

The hydraulic pump 5I! which furnishes the power to operate the jack 3| is mounted on the vmain frame of the main unit and derives its l power from a pulley 5I which engages the belt 42a as a belt idler. The pressure pump 50 is mounted on an angle iron support |10 which is welded to a bar |1| that is hinged at |12 to the lug |13 onthe channel iron post |14. The supporty |10 can be'raised to increase the pressure of pulley 5I against the belt 42 by means of an adjusting screw |15 (see Figs. 2, 16 and 17)..

In order to protect the parts below the elevator of the main unit from saw dust thrown back by the saw 93 (later described). the entire righthand side of the unit is protected by a shield 53. A further Vshield 54 extends Vbetween the chainways 8 and covers the top of the Aunit (Fig. 1^). The shield 54 preferably extends from the platform 3 to the upper ends of the chain-ways 8. 55 designates a clutch and'gear box having a removable cover 56 (see Figs 1A, 4 and 5) This box 55 is located to one side (right-hand in Fig. 1A.) of the elevator of the main unit as is also the log feeding and sawing mechanism now about to be described.A i

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5-it1wi1l beseen vertical supports 51 Aand 58 carry bearings 6U for the shaft 59 on which the powered feed roll 6| is mounted. The roll 6| is of a special light construction (Figs. 9 and 10) and is formed by rolling a blank shaped as in Fig. 9 into tubular form, weldingthe edges together and Welding disc-like heads 62.in theA ends. Inverted V-shaped-incross-section bars 63 are welded at diametrically opposite pointsI to vinsure `effective gripping of the The shaft 5S-has, a sprocket 64 formed as a part of a clutch member 65 which runs loose on theV shaft kand is held against movement along thevshaft in one direction by a collar 66. The clutch member 65 cooperates with a shiftable clutch member 61v keyed to shaft 59. The member 61 is shiftable into and out of engagement with member.1 65 by means of aV forked clutch shifting lever 69 that is pivoted at 10 to a bracket 68 and is constructed to engage clutch member 61 as at'BSa. -The endgof'lever 69 opposite the pivoted end is connected at 13 to a trunnion` block 12 on a pull rod-1| that extends to the front end of the main unit fandfthere carries an arm. 14 that ispivoted'at 11 to a similar arm 16 on a pedal shaft 15. The shaft, 15 is journalledin bearings and-has a pedal 18 and stroke-adjusting screw 19. Theshaftf' II has a bevel gear connecticut! with a shaft 8| that is journalled in bearings 82 andhas a driving sprocket 84' around which and sprocket 64a drive chain l85 passes. Y

In order to prevent the tree-.trunk logs from swingingy over into the saw I provide a. log stop 8E, bestI shownJinI Figs. 4 and18. This stop is curved asatsato ,over-,lie the log and servesgnot `The support B is `continued upwardly to act as a saw bar stop 81 to limit the lowering movement of the saw and is best shown in Figl. Itis provided with airecess or seat 88a in which 68 in which the sawarm or` iframe` 89 is securely held. One end of the arm 89 carries a bearing 9| in which the saw arbor or shaft 92 is? journalled while a counterweight Illllis carried by the The saw 93 is guarded by a suitable guard 94 and is lowered to the log other end of the arm 89.

by means of a handle95. The saw is driven by means of a belt 9B taking over pulleys 96 and`9`| ontthe arbor 92 and shaft 35 respectively. The belt and pulleys are preferably of the V-type` .and the belt is kept under uniform tension regardless of the position of the arm 89 on its fulcrum.

A suitable draft tongue `99cm the front end of the machine, the main unit. provides `aA con-` venient way to attach a tractor when it isdesired to tow the machine from one locationto another. The main frame is mounted on a suitable wheeled axle |00 as shown in Fig. 1A.

The foregoing describes the construction of the main and extension units of the machine.

We will now describe the cross haul unit and its operating instrumentalities, by reference y particularlyto Figs. 1A, 1C and` 111.v This unit comprises two sections of trackage coupled together as at |66 (Fig. 1C) and connected to the main frame as at |61 in any approved way. Each section of trackage comprises a pair oftrails` |0| joined by cross-ties |02 and braced by diagonal braces |05. The rails are also `provided with anchoring feet |03 having apertures through which` spikes or stakes may be` driven to "hold the track sections in place while in use; Shaft bearings |04 are secured to the rails and carry the extension shaft H3. i

. A draft bar |06 is provided by means of which the track sections may be dragged from placeto place when desired. i

i. At suitable intervals along the track at its front side are located several elevating knees |08 onbases` |01 secured to the track rails IDI. The knees |08 have cross pins on which the upper ends of elevating arms |09 are hooked.` Each arm |09 has a base ||0to` rest' on the ground. A chain ||2 connects the baseof the knee |08 with its .arm |09 and prevents `the knee "from cooking up when a log is being cross hauled.

The extension shaft I3 is joined to the shaft by two detachable universal joints ||4`1a`nd their connecting shaft I I5.

At a suitable location along the far side of the trackage is located a log hauling apparatus, which is best shown in Figs. 1C, 6 and '7, by reference to which it will be observed that on a base II'I, which is suitably secured to the trackage, are four corner angle irons ||8 which support horizontal plates ||9 as an integral structure, `and side plates the latter carrying the bearings |2| for the cable or chain drum or reel |23 and the bearings |35 for a clutch shaft |34.

The shaft |22 of the reel |23 is journalled in the bearings |2| and carries a sprocket |24 over which and a. sprocket |43 carried by the free clutch member |42, a driving chain |44 passes.

The reel |23` has a brakedrum |25 around which a brake band |26 passes. The ends ofthe band |26 are Iconnected to a bellcrank lever |28 at` opposite sides of its pivot on a stud |21. The

lever |28Mis connected by a rod |32 and. turnbuckle |33 to a foot lever |29 that is pivoted at |3| to a bracket |3| projecting from one of the uprights |I8. The lever |29 has a foot pedal |30 `as shown.

Keyed to and sldable on shaft |34 is a shiitable clutch element |36 operable by means of a shifterwfork |31 pivoted at |38 and connected withV aclutchshifting lever 40 by a link |-4|.. The lever |40 is pivoted t0 a lug |39 on the plate |20. A

f A hook |45 `is secured to the traokage to which one end of a hauling chain or wire rope cable |46 is connected, the other end of which is connecteditothe reel or drum |23.

Shaftl34 is driven from shaft ||3 via a sprocket and `chain connection IIB, |49, |41.

`Referring now to Figs. l2 to 15 inclusive the construction of the dolly which runs on the trackage will be understood. The dolly comprises a suitable frame |49 mounted on` axles |50 having traction wheels `|5| of suitable kind. One axle has a notched disc |52.

Pivoted at |55 to a bracket |53 on the frame |49 is a double-acting lever one of whose arms |54 carries a linger |56 to enter the stop recesses i522a of the disc |52. The other arm of the lever has a linger |51 to enter a notch |60 in an end of roller ll. A lever |62 fastened to lever `|54 enables that lever to be rocked from one position to the other, either to hold shaft |50 from turning or hold roller ISI from turning as the` case may be. is journalled in bearings |56 on the frame |49.

Log skid brackets |63 are located on the frame |59`at the entrant end of the roller |6| `while log the far end of the roller, on the frame |49.

Operation With the machine units assembled as shown `in Fig. l, thechain or cable |46 is unwound in part from reel |23 and passed under a log L lying parallel-to the trackage. The end of the cable is then placed on the hook |45 and lever |40 operatedtto throw in the clutch, whereupon the cable will be wound up on the reel and the log will be rolled' up the elevating arms and over ontothe feed roll 6| `and dolly rOll` |6| after which cable |46 is released from the hook |45.

In practice two operators are used on the machine and two others at the load-receiving vehicle. One machine operator manipulates the log cross haul mechanism (Figs. 6 and 7) and the dolly brakes and the other controls the stopping and starting of the machine and the operations ofthe saw. The `two loaders simply see that the cut lengths are properly placed on the receiving the log to sever a section from the tree trunk.v

This severed section rolls down the platform 3 and is picked up by the dogs |4 on the main elevator chains and by them carried up and de- The shaft |58 of the roller Hl` stop plates |64 and 'cross bar |65 are located. at`

7,- posited on the extension unit, by the conveyors of which the log is carried ,toand discharged onto the vehicle ,being loaded. The extension unit having its free end raised or lowered as required by the hydraulic jack 3 I, 34 as required, through manipulation .of a control valve |80 as will be clear to those skilled in the art. l

As soon as one length has been sawed from the tree-trunk log the operation is repeated again and again.

If the treetrunk log overhangs the dolly, the attendant sets the wheel stop by rocking lever |54 to cause it to engage disc |52 and disengage roller IBI. This'set up is left to remain until the end of the log nears roller |6| whereupon the attendant reverses lever |54 to disengage the axle disc |52 and lock the roller IBI. Thereafter as the log is fed forward by the powered feed roll IGI the dolly `will ride along the trackage until the dolly arrives adjacent the roll 6I and the log is fully sawed, after which the dolly is returned toits initial position to receive a second tree-trunk log.

The dogs on the elevator chains are so spaced apart and the timing of the chains operations are such that no two log lengths can interfere with one another `and the load adjusters will have ample time to adjust the logs on the receiving vehicle after they have been deposited by the elevator extension unit.

As shown in Fig. l1, the control valve |80, which is preferably located at the discharge end of the extension unit (Fig. 2) is connected to the low pressure end of the hydraulic cylinder by a duct IBI and by a duct |83 to the low pressure side of the pump 50. The high pressure side of the pump 50 is connected by a duct |84- to the valve |80. The high pressure end of the cylinder 3| is connected to the valve |80 by a duct |82.

The operator a't the discharge end of the machine by manipulating valve |80 to connect high pressure lines |82, |84 will cause the extension unit to rise and conversely by exhausting the yhigh pressure line |82 the low pressure will lower the extension unit. Any approved type of control valve |80 may be used as suitable valves are well known.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a very eifective pulpwood harvesting machine by the use of which the pulpwood can be loaded and sent out of the woods as fast as it is cut and the trouble and expense of maintaining large, scattered inventory is eliminated. By the use of my machine a better and more permanent class of employees can be maintained around a mechanized woods operation because heavy, back-breaking labor is eliminated. By careful coordination of the activities of the various members of the crew my machine makes it possible to double the output per man.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it is 8E thought the construction, operation and advantages of the invention will be'clear to those skilled in the art and I desire it further understood that when I use the term cable with reference to the element |46 that term shall include a chain as well as a flexible wire cable..

What I claim is:

1. In a pulpwood harvesting machine, track rails, a dolly comprising .a frame mounted on Wheeled axles whose wheels run on said rails, a log supporting roller mounted on said wheeled frame, a two-way latch device mounted on said Wheeled frame, and operatively engaging said roller and one of the wheeled'axles alternately to lock the dolly from movement along the rails or lock the roller against turning, a log stop at the far side of the dolly frame and log skids at the near side of the dolly frame.

2. In a portable pulpwood harvesting machine which includes a 10g saw, means for feeding a. log

to the saw, said means including a trackage unity whichunit includes a dolly, track rails on which the dolly runs, and a xedly located log feed roller, said dolly comprising a frame mounted on wheeled axles vwhose wheels run on said rails. a log supporting roller mounted on said wheeled frame, a two-way latch device mounted on said wheeled frame and operatively engaging said roller and one of said wheeled axles alternately to lock the dolly from movement along the rails or lock the log supporting roller against turning.

BERT L. MONTAGUE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 39,880 Brown Sept. 15, 1863 285,982 Fachmon Oct. 2, 1883 296,334 Jones Apr. 8, 1884 `400,790 Pratt et al Apr. 2, 1889 504,589 .Kaime Sept. 5, 1893 711,947 Dittbenner Oct. 28, 1902 719,585 Hanssler Feb. 3, 1903 726,165 I-Iunt Apr. 21, 1903 785,400 Buchanan Mar. 21, 1905 817,628 Cummiskey Apr. 10, 1906 825,518 COX July 10, 1906 1,001,272 Howard Aug. 22, 1911 1,043,169 Tenow et al. Nov. 5, 1912 1,262,943 Gustafson Apr. 16, 1918 1,492,317 Willette Apr. 29, 1924 1,576,025 Baumhover Mar. 9, 1926 1,782,607 Freeman Nov. 25, 1930 2,410,887 Locke Nov. 12, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS A Number Country Date 104,894 Austria Dec. 10, 1926 

